“A medium-sized, flat-faced male like a bulldog is three times more likely to live a shorter life than a small, long-faced female,” the researcher said.
A longer snout in a dog could mean that the animal lives longer.
That’s according to a new study published in Scientific Reports, which examined the length, size and gender of a dog’s snout in relation to a dog’s lifespan.
The study analyzed nearly 585,000 dogs in the UK and found that medium-proportioned or long-faced dog breeds – such as miniature dachshunds, papillons and shiba inus, which have an average lifespan of 14 years – tend to live longer than their flat-faced counterparts. counterparts. Flat-faced breeds such as English or French bulldogs or mastiffs have an average lifespan of about nine years.
The study also found that the dog’s breed mattered, as purebred dogs lived about eight months longer than dogs crossbred with two or more breeds. Additional findings include that smaller dogs lived longer than larger dogs, and females had a longer average lifespan than males.
10 most popular dog breeds
“A medium-sized, flat-faced male like a bulldog is three times more likely to live a shorter life than a small, long-faced female like a miniature dachshund or an Italian greyhound,” Kirsten McMillan, lead author of the study’s book, told CNN.
That means owners of the French bulldog — which was named the nation’s most popular breed last year, ending the Lab’s record-breaking, 31-year run as the most popular pup — may have to pay more attention to their furry companions.
“This new research highlights these major health concerns by finding that flat-faced dogs live 1.5 years less than typical dogs,” Dan O’Neill, an associate professor at the Royal Veterinary College in London, said in a statement to CNN.
The French Bulldog has been named the most popular dog breed, ending the Labrador Retriever’s 31-year reign
“We urge anyone considering buying a flat-faced breed to ‘stop and think’ and ensure they get a dog with the best prospects for a long and happy life,” he added.
There have been several stories over the past few years about bulldogs having to overcome various health issues, including respiratory, skin and joint problems. One bulldog up for adoption at Roadogs Rescue in Southern California last year even had “severe congenital spinal problems.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
However, the study is not completely comprehensive, as McMillan noted to CNN that it did not take into account factors such as the dog’s daily life with its owners and the cause of death, which is often euthanasia.
“I hope that this document is a catalyst that will move policy makers, government, veterinarians, owners, everyone who asks, ‘Why are these dogs dying?’ “, she told CNN. “It’s going to be very difficult to answer, but every time we answer even a small part of it, we’re making progress towards having a much healthier dog population.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education